Base network confirms transaction delays resolved after 31 January disruption
Base network experienced temporary transaction delays on 31 January 2026. The team confirmed stability was restored on 1 February and promised a public incident report.
Base reports delayed transaction processing
The Base blockchain is an Ethereum layer-2 network developed by Coinbase. On 31 January 2026, Base confirmed temporary delays in processing transactions while blocks continued to be produced without interruption. During periods of network congestion, users experienced longer-than-usual confirmation times and, in some cases, dropped transactions.
Timeline of congestion and recovery steps
On 31 January 2026, Base status communications and crypto media described intermittent transaction packaging delays on the mainnet that raised user confirmation times significantly above normal levels. Public updates explained that some transactions were delayed or discarded during periods of heightened network congestion. On 1 February 2026, Base stated that remedial measures had restored overall network stability while block production and transaction processing continued.
Network behaviour under traffic spikes
During the January 2026 incident, Base kept adding new blocks to the chain, unlike a separate disruption in 2025 that paused block creation for 19 minutes. The confirmed problem centred on intermittent transaction packaging delays during congestion, which led to extended confirmation times and some transactions being dropped. Status summaries describe congestion as a recurring operational problem during heavy activity on the network.
Planned root cause analysis and reporting
Base has committed to a comprehensive root cause analysis (RCA) of the incident and a public incident report to be released in the coming days. Official statements say the team has verified a fix that restores overall network stability, while warning that transactions submitted during heightened congestion can still experience delays or loss. The planned RCA and report are expected to provide more detail on the incident sequence and the network’s behaviour under load.
User confidence and future incidents
Base previously recorded a 19-minute break in block creation in 2025 before the 2026 transaction delay incident. Crypto coverage notes that recurring slow confirmations and dropped transactions have increased user concern about financial risks when using the network.